Botany and Ormiston Times : Botany and Ormiston Times Thursday April 7 2016

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Botany and Ormiston Times, Thursday, April 7, 2016 — 3
CD1779
AT THE
AUCKLAND SPCA
Auckland SPCA, 50 Westney Road, Mangere.
Ph: 09 256 7300. Visit our website at www.spca.org.nz
FIND YOUR
BEST FRIEND
“ The Challenge Coin reflects Counties
Manukau Police and the community
working together to keep the community
safe and also communicates our history
and the values we demonstrate daily
within our interaction,” Mr Tims said.
“ These coins are given to those that have
contributed and added value to Policing
and the community.”
It led Ms Collins to jokingly nudge him
saying, “You have to give me one too!”
Supported by 13 volunteers from
Sahaayta counselling services that speak
18 languages and devoted police officers
like Sergeant Gurpreet Arora and inspector
Rakesh Naidoo from Wellington, the
project is funded primarily by Lotteries
Commission and by community donations
via Total Healthcare as well as the
community arm of Nirvana Foundation of
which Ranjna Patel is director.
Meanwhile a counsellor was overheard
telling Minister Judith Collins whilst taking
her around the intervention house: “You
are like the Die Hard series. Every time we
think you are out and finished you come
back with further ammunition. Like Die
Hard one, two, three, and four!”
➤➤ People involved with domestic
violence can contact Gandhi Nivas and
speak to a counsellor at 276-2977 or
report the incident to the police who
can refer them to the house.
➤➤ For further assistance, call the Family
Violence Information Line on 0800-
456- 450 that is available seven days a
week, from 9am-11pm, with an after-
hours message redirecting callers in the
case of an emergency.
➤➤ If you are worried about a child and
don’t want to give your name, you can
phone 0508 FAMILY for assistance.
Challenge
Coin award
➤➤ From page 1
➤■ By Marianne Kelly
Polish heritage was to
the fore when Mount
Roskill MP and Auckland
mayoralty candidate Phil Goff
and his sister-in-law Janina
Goff met John and Ellen
Wojciechowski Roy at Howick’s
Polish Heritage Trust Museum
last week.
The link was Ms Goff ’s mother
who, along with Mr Roy, was
one of 1.7 million Polish people
forced from their homes in
Eastern Poland to labour camps
throughout Siberia at the start
of World War II. They were two
of 733 Polish children and 102
guardians who, 70 years ago,
arrived in Wellington on the
United States troopship, the
General Randall. The refugees
were transported by rail to
Pahiatua, Wairarapa, and then
by 33 army trucks to an old
internment camp to become
known as the Polish Children’s
Camp.
Meeting Ms Goff was for Mr
Roy like meeting family.
“It’s [the Polish children] the
largest family in the world,” he
said.
Meanwhile Ms Goff was
already acquainted with Mr
Roy’s nieces and nephews in
Wellington where they shared
Saturday classes at Wellington’s
Polish School.
“ The school is catering for a
new group of people,” she said.
“ There are many younger
Poles who went to England and
married Kiwis. New Zealand
has a big group of new Polish
immigrants.”
Ms Goff was visiting Howick
from her home in Canberra,
Australia for a Goff family
reunion.
Mr Goff ’s father was
celebrating his 95th birthday
and his son was being married.
“I have a strong association
with the South-East,” Mr Goff
said.
“Mum and Dad lived in Eastern
Beach and Dad now lives in
Meadowlands. Mum is buried
in the Star of the Sea Catholic
graveyard in Howick.
“ The south-east is not a
mystery for me,” he said. “I have
always had affection for the
area. Now we live in Clevedon
and spend a lot of time in the
Botany Town Centre when we
are shopping.”
Mr Goff says the responsibility
of the next mayor will be to
accelerate plans to improve the
infrastructure and make sure the
pace keeps up with the growing
population.
“If the Government believes
that Auckland should grow at
the pace it is, it must provide
some resources to cater for
the infrastructure, otherwise
Auckland will become a ‘city of
frustration’, not the most liveable
city.”
During a previous tour of the
ward with Howick Local Board
chairman, David Collings, Mr
Goff was impressed with plans
for Pakuranga Plaza.
“We do have to have
intensification in Auckland and it
makes sense there. It’s the right
place.”
During a visit to the Greater
East Tamaki Business Association
(GETBA) Mr Goff says he learned
about the serious transport
issues in the region.
“We can’t be the world’s
most liveable city if we have
this congestion. We pour
money down the drain caused
by lost productivity and get
nothing back except transport
frustration.”
heritage
Mayoral hopeful visits
his south-east roots
From left, Janina Goff, sister-in-law of Auckland mayoralty candidate
Phil Goff; Polish Heritage Trust Museum benefactor John Roy; and his
daughter Ellen Roy-Wojciechowski.
Times photo Wayne Martin